Nancy Vandespool of Queens Joins Lung Cancer Advocates from Every State on Capitol Hill to Fight for More Research Funding

Local Woodhaven LUNG FORCE Hero Joined Volunteers from Across the Country to Urge Congress to Support Robust, Sustained Federal Funding Increases for Research

(March 23, 2016) -

NEW YORK, NY – Last week Nancy Vandespool of Woodhaven, Queens joined the American Lung Association’s LUNG FORCE initiative and “LUNG FORCE Heroes” – Americans personally impacted by lung cancer – from every state at the U.S. Capitol to press Senators Schumer and Gillibrand along with Representatives Velasquez and Tonko for continued bipartisan momentum toward defeating lung cancer.

During Advocacy Day, Nancy Vandespool shared her personal experience with lung cancer. Nancy’s personal battle with lung cancer began in 2009. After coughing uncontrollably for years, Nancy started to develop back pain and was coughing up blood. She brought herself to the hospital where, after several tests, she was diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. She has been treated and is currently in remission.

“When I received my lung cancer diagnosis I was shocked, it is something you think you’ll never hear – think will never happen to you,” said Vandespool, who never smoked and is now in remission. The truth is, anyone can be diagnosed with this disease. It is critical that we commit to educating everyone on the risks of lung cancer so that cases can be detected at an early stage, when the most treatment options are available.”

“Participating in LUNG FORCE’s Advocacy Day was an honor. Seeing 50 of my fellow Heroes come together from across the country striving towards one goal was tremendous,” said Vandespool. “I hope that our efforts help put a face to lung cancer and showed Congress just how big of an impact this disease has. Advocacy Day was just one piece of a tremendous fight to defeat lung cancer, the momentum cannot come to a halt.”

Vandespool encourages everyone to advocate for lung cancer research to your members of Congress in Washington, D.C. To learn more about Nancy Vandespool’s story and the LUNG FORCE initiative, visit LUNGFORCE.org.